Meanwhile, the group representing the three top-tier junior hockey leagues in Canada is also seeking federal financial aid in the wake of the cancellation of this year’s Memorial Cup tournament (the top prize for major junior hockey). The Canadian Hockey League is comprised of the Ontario Hockey League (home to franchises like the Ottawa 67s, London Knights and Windsor Spitfires), the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (which has teams like the Halifax Mooseheads and Gatineau Olympiques) and the Western Hockey League (home to franchises like the Calgary Hitmen, Regina Pats and Vancouver Giants).

The CHL also recently settled a minimum wage lawsuit with some former players for $30 million. The agreement, though, states that this is not an admission that these major junior players were in effect employees and should have been paid at least minimum wage for their work. Major junior players typically only receive a small stipend from their teams, though out-of-town players typically receive free housing (from team boosters) and school scholarships when they leave the league.

Sportsnet is reporting, citing several sources, that each CHL team will be responsible for paying approximately $250,000 in damages related to the lawsuit, which could be a significant cost for some smaller market teams.

Collectively, there were 58 new registrations last week, a drop of 16 from the previous week’s numbers. All consultant lobbyists and most in-house lobbyists (those lobbying for the company they work for) must register with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying if they are lobbying designated public office holders. They must also submit monthly reports (known as communication reports) detailing all lobbying communications with designated public office holders.

Three organizations were named in three new registrations each: Wolf Carbon Solutions Inc., Ethnic Channels Group Ltd. and the aforementioned, Canadian Hockey League. Three more were named in two new registrations apiece – Tennis Canada, Central American Nickel and Air Canada. By lobby firm, a Montreal firm, Mercure Conseil, also in the registry as Mercury Consulting, lead the way with nine new registrations. Bluesky Strategy was next with five followed by Maple Leaf Strategies with four. Nicolas Dalmau of Mercure Conseil won the week with five new registrations, followed by colleague Hugo Delorme and Maple Leaf Strategies’ Luka Stevanovic each with four.

The highlights

In recent agriculture registrations:

Luka Stevanovic of Maple Leaf Strategies registered for Mowi Canada, Clearwater Seafoods and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance. The topics are salmon farming, fisheries management policies and the need for an aquaculture policy respectively.

In recent COVID-19-related labour registrations:

Toundra Greenhouses/Serres Toundra was registered by Bruce Hartley of Prospectus Association in Corporate Development about essential workers and temporary foreign worker policies.

In recent COVID-19 financial support registrations:

William Pristanski and Martin-Pierre Pelletier of Prospectus Associates registered for Air Canada, which is seeking a financial aid package.

The Canadian Hockey League is looking for financial support for its 52 Canadian teams (they are several teams in the three leagues based in the U.S.). Susan Smith, Raphael Brass and Tim Barber of Bluesky Strategy registered on its behalf.

Sheamus Murphy of Counsel Public Affairs Inc. registered for Melcor Developments Ltd. to discuss the terms of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program and its applicability to small business tenants.

Paul Tye of Sussex Strategy Group registered for the Criminal Lawyer’s Association to change the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Business Account so more members qualify.

The CEO of Invest Ottawa, Michael Tremblay, registered to lobby the federal government on behalf of tech start-ups, science and technology funding and COVID-19 specific aid for the start-up sector.

The Hard Rock Cafe was expanding the casino at an Ottawa horse racing track when the pandemic began. This is the second registration seeking financial and credit support for the project. Christopher Froggatt of Loyalist Public Affairs registered on its behalf.

In recent COVID-19 medical supplies/research registrations:

Daniel Lacroix registered for IQVIA Solutions Canada Inc. to lobby about their health analytics and data solutions and look for contracts for the Quebec based company.

Brett James of Sussex Strategy Group registered for DataMetrex AI Ltd. to help the company navigate the medical device approval process. Their website says they use big data, machine learning and AI to fight fake news and disinformation.

Hussain Shorish of Bluesky registered to lobby on behalf of Myant, an Ontario company that makes biometric enabled textiles. They are looking for funding to manufacture antiviral enhanced personal protective equipment.

Hunter Amenities International is back on the registration list again this week. Same topics as the last time they were featured but a new lobbyist, Patricia Toner of Global Public Affairs, registered on its behalf. They manufacture personal care products, especially for the hospitality industry and want to see if they can get contracts for COVID-19-specific supplies. They are also interested in export financing through Export Development Canada and want to discuss audits with Canada Revenue Agency.

Hugo Delorme and Nicolas Dalmau of Mercure Conseil registered for Angany Inc., which is seeking funding for a possible COVID-19 vaccine.

In other COVID-19 registrations:

Orkin Canada, normally brings to mind pest control but Howard Brown of Brown & Cohen Communications and Public Affairs is going to lobby MPs and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to think of Orkin as a disinfectant service.

Pierre Cyr of FleishmanHillard HighRoad Corp registered for KPMG Canada LLP. They want an extension of existing government contracts to support the federal economic recovery efforts.

Also anticipating having a role during the economic recovery, Cyr registered on behalf of the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation.

The new union representing members of the RCMP, the National Police Federation, was registered by president Brian Sauve. According to CBC News, they were anticipating heading in to collective bargaining in mid-March.

In recent sport registrations:

Tennis Canada’s registration does not mention the pandemic at all but rather the desire to tap into the Building Canada fund to upgrade facilities. They received over $1.6 million from various levels of government with the bulk of it coming from federal agencies. Cameron Holstrom and Susan Smith of Bluesky Strategies registered on the body’s behalf.

In recent tourism registrations:

Kayode Southwood of Impact Public Affairs registered for the Hotel Association of Canada but the registration does not explicitly appear to have anything to do with the pandemic. Its’ focus is on temporary foreign workers and tourism policy.

In recent transportation registrations:

Hugo Delorme and Nicolas Dalmau of Mercure Conseil registered to lobby for Davie Canada Yard. The topic is more contracts related to the National Shipbuilding Strategy.